Johnny Foreigner - Waited Up 'Til It Was Light

Waited Up ‘Til It Was Light
Johnny Foreigner
Best Before Records

“Get out before the ship goes down,” screams lead stringsman Alexei Berrow, ably accompanied by bassist and backing vocalist Kelly Southern, on vibrant opener “Lea Room”. You are a couple of minutes into Johnny Foreigner’s explosive debut album: a far cry from the dull grey ladrock of the Twentieth Century. This fight-pop spectacular treads that patch of ground that lies between nineties college rock and today’s underground indie scene, unashamedly blending the likes of Cap’n Jazz with Bloc Party.

Second track and lead single, “Our Bipolar Friends”, begins like a tender power ballad, showcasing Kelly Southern’s sweet vocals, but soon it turns on you and kicks you square in the nuts as Johnny Foreigner turn it right up to 11! From then on, the album doesn’t let go, sinking its heartfelt emotional lyrics right into the jugular, the raw emotion in both singers’ voices oozing out in bucket loads: a refreshing break from the majority of soulless garbage masquerading as music today.

Second single “Eyes Wide Terrified” again begins gently, but evolves into a monstrous mêlée of “scuzzy” guitars and poignant lyrics, leading into what must be one of the best sing-along moments in modern rock history.

“Cranes and Cranes and Cranes and Cranes”, a further high point, has been greatly improved from the demo that long term fans will be familiar with: another great fight-pop anthem, declaring the trials and tribulations of a young man seeing his city torn down and replaced with so-called ‘modern architecture’.

“Salt, Pepper and Spindarella” then goes on to explore Johnny Foreigner’s more sensitive side, revealing that they are definitely not one-trick ponies, and the delicate strings on “DJs Get Doubts” prove that Johnny Foreigner don’t have to hide behind a wall of noisy pop to make a good song, as the moving lyrics and striking melodies sweep you far, far away from your troubles.

Unfortunately, “The Hidden Song At The End of The Record” lets the album down slightly, where an ending resting on “Absolute Balance” would have sufficed : a slight blemish on an otherwise dazzling first album.

So “Waited Up ‘Til It Was Light” could be the best debut album you will hear this year, and all from the band that NME described as “good emo”. It will either give Johnny Foreigner the recognition they deserve, or will force them to remain one of Britain’s most promising underground talents. Let’s hope it’s the former…

For fans of: Pixies, Bloc Party, Los Campesinos!

ES, RT